Gentle Fist Has Its Limits

Chapter 12: Gentle Fist Has Its Limits

The atmosphere in the clan hall was stiflingly oppressive, the air seeming to congeal into a solid mass. The gazes of Hyuga Suigetsu and the others remained locked on Hyuga Satoru.

After a moment of silence, Hyuga Satoru spoke.

"I also want to go to the clan's training grounds, but most of those training there are Chunin and Genin. I'm not even a ninja—how could I compete with them? I can only train at home every day."

"The Magnet Release bloodline ability is something I only recently developed. Before that, I knew very little about Kekkei Genkai. My parents died early, leaving me to live alone, and I didn't have the energy to think about much else."

After saying this, Hyuga Satoru fell silent. In this situation, the best approach was to play up his misery and act clueless. After all, he was a nobody in the clan—even if the Main Family had intel on him, it wouldn't be much.

Hyuga Suigetsu listened and exchanged glances with the elders around him. Indeed, they had already investigated Hyuga Satoru's circumstances. If not for the matter of the Dual Bloodline Limit, he was the type of person with the least presence in the clan, almost never noticed by anyone.

Nodding, Hyuga Suigetsu's voice softened a few degrees. "Since you've awakened a second bloodline, no matter what, we won't let you live the way you did before. From today on, your living allowance will be tripled."

"Thank you, Clan Head."

Hyuga Satoru bowed in gratitude. This was an unexpected bonus.

Then, Hyuga Suigetsu's gaze suddenly sharpened, and he shifted the topic. "I've heard that you've developed a disdain for Gentle Fist and even altered the basic Gentle Fist techniques without authorization. Is this true?"

Silence once again fell over the clan hall.

Hyuga Satoru said nothing. No need to guess—this was naturally Iroha's report.

"Yes."

A flicker of displeasure appeared in Hyuga Suigetsu's eyes as he frowned.

"Our clan has stood firm in the ninja world for a thousand years on the foundation of Gentle Fist and the Byakugan. The fundamentals of Gentle Fist are not to be altered. Do you understand?"

Hyuga Satoru thought briefly, then tentatively asked.

"Clan Head, I'd like to ask—Gentle Fist has allowed the Hyuga Clan to stand in the ninja world for a thousand years, but in all those years, has Gentle Fist ever changed?"

Hyuga Suigetsu considered it. "Though Gentle Fist underwent some evolution from its inception, it eventually became fixed as the technique best suited to our clan, capable of handling all changes. It has been this way for a hundred years."

"Clan Head, I learned of the Tailed Beasts from my father's notes. Can Gentle Fist handle a Tailed Beast?"

"What are you trying to say?"

Hyuga Suigetsu frowned.

Hyuga Satoru paused, then spoke softly. "Gentle Fist has its limits."

"Enough!"

Hyuga Suigetsu cut him off in dissatisfaction.

"The Hyuga Clan has survived to this day relying on the foundation of Gentle Fist and the Byakugan. Don't think that just because you've awakened Magnet Release, you can take another path. Let me tell you—compared to Gentle Fist, Magnet Release is worthless!"

The Branch Family guard beside Hyuga Satoru trembled, bowing his body, a look of helplessness and bitterness on his face as a bead of cold sweat slid down his forehead.

He didn't understand why Hyuga Satoru had brought up this topic. The elders of the Main Family were far too sensitive about Gentle Fist.

Hyuga Satoru sighed inwardly.

Not to mention that Gentle Fist had almost no long-range capability—the only one, Empty Palm, had a very limited range. This alone capped Gentle Fist's potential.

More importantly!

The rigid training of Gentle Fist had all but cut off the possibility of Hyuga ninja developing other Byakugan abilities!

A Byakugan bloodline with the ability to see through several kilometers had been reduced by the Hyuga to mere reconnaissance.

Gentle Fist might have once been the foundation of the Hyuga's standing in the ninja world, but now, it was the Hyuga Clan's shackles—just like the Caged Bird Seal.

Only by breaking these shackles could the Hyuga be reborn!

Hyuga Suigetsu waved his hand impatiently. "Enough. This matter ends here. You may go."

"Yes."

After Hyuga Satoru and that Branch Family guard left, Hyuga Suigetsu looked at the youngster behind him and asked in a low voice.

"Hiashi, what do you think of that Hyuga Satoru?"

Hyuga Hiashi was a descendant Hyuga Suigetsu thought highly of, always keeping him close and training him as a successor.

Hiashi thought for a moment, then said, "Since he is the first ninja in Hyuga history with a Dual Bloodline Limit, his future development will surely not be poor. But his lack of regard for Gentle Fist may become an obstacle on his path."

Hyuga Suigetsu snorted coldly.

"Abandoning the study of Gentle Fist to research crooked paths—his achievements will be limited. In the end, he's just a Branch Family member."

Hearing that last sentence, Hyuga Hiashi opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately fell silent.

Outside the clan hall, that Branch Family guard wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at Hyuga Satoru with some anxiety.

"Satoru! You're too bold—you actually dared to speak ill of Gentle Fist in front of the Clan Head!"

Hyuga Satoru's gaze flickered.

This was his first contact with the high-level officials of the Main Family. Their stubborn corruption was laid bare—knowing Gentle Fist could be improved, yet clinging rigidly to ancestral ways as immutable.

Still, this wasn't without benefit for him.

After today, the Clan Head would likely continue to look down on him, which would actually help him develop his Electromagnetic Force ability.

Scattering the thoughts in his mind, Hyuga Satoru scratched his head and smiled as he looked at the Branch Family guard.

"Thanks for your concern, uncle. By the way, I still don't know your name."

"Hyuga Hiragi. Just call me Uncle Hiragi."

"Alright, Uncle Hiragi."

As if recalling something, Hyuga Hiragi gazed into the distance, a trace of nostalgia appearing on his face.

"Before your father passed away, he and I carried out missions together. Though we didn't talk much, I could tell he was a very honest man."

"I have too many tasks every day. Aside from distributing the survivor benefits to you, it's hard to have much exchange with you. But if you ever have any questions about training in the future, you can come over and find me."

"Then thank you, Uncle Hiragi."

Hyuga Satoru said with a smile. Hyuga Hiragi was a Jonin; even if he didn't follow the Gentle Fist system, there should still be things he could learn from.

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